Beaten, burnt & locked in darkness for days; Nagpur family abuses minor househelp
PTC News Desk: A minor girl working as a domestic help for a family in Maharashtra's Nagpur was beaten, burned with cigarettes, and locked up in darkness for days.
According to the police, a family in Nagpur's Atharva Nagari Society brought a 12-year-old girl from Bengaluru to help with household chores. Her employers physically abused the girl, burning her with a hot pan and cigarettes whenever she made mistakes. She suffered burns on her private areas from hot kitchen utensils and cigarettes. She was also locked in the house for four days while her family travelled to Bengaluru.
The incident came to light when she was found by the neighbours. They heard her calls for help and noticed her trying to escape through a window. The neighbours brought her out of the house, provided her with food and water, and then called the police.
According to one neighbour, the minor girl's employers failed to pay the house's electricity bill, resulting in its disconnection. The girl had to spend her nights in complete darkness, surviving just on bread.
"We saw her trying to force her way out of the house through a window one night. We rescued her, fed her, and then informed the authorities about the necessary action," one neighbour stated.
The family allegedly convinced the girl's parents that after taking her to Nagpur, they would provide her with education and care.
Sheetal Patil, a social worker with the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, stated that the medical examination of the traumatised girl revealed various wounds and burn marks on her body, including her private parts. The girl is currently receiving treatment.
So far, one person has been arrested in connection with this incident. According to the police, a case has been filed against the family, and a further inquiry into this matter is underway.
Also Read | India shoots to sun with Aditya-L1 Solar Mission; India’s first-ever sun mission
- With inputs from agencies
